Wednesday, December 30, 2020

The Hunting Party, by Lucy Foley

Title: The Hunting Party
Author: Lucy Foley
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 12/15/2020
Finished: 12/25/2020

Enjoyable but very similar to the other Foley book I read earlier this year (The Guest List). 

Forgot to record this one last week, so posting this update out of order. 

One Minute Out, by Mark Greaney

Title: One Minute Out
Author: Mark Greaney
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 12/24/2020
Finished: 12/30/2020

My final book of 2021. Crazy year, read print/Kindle more than. Listened to audiobooks for the first time since starting this blog.  Also blew away my previous record of books in a year.  

This was another Grey Man novel, decent enough. 

Black-Eyed Susans, by Julia Heaberlin

Title: Black-Eyed Susan's
Author: Julia Heaberlin
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 12/ 25/2020
Finished: 12/30/2020

Book club selection, really enjoyed it.  

Thursday, December 24, 2020

The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood

Title: The Blind Assassin
Author: Margaret Atwood
Borrowed paperback from little free library in DC
Started: 9/1/2020
Finished: 12/24/2020

I liked this one but left it at the beach for months after starting -- so it took me a while to finish. Unlike any other Atwood novel I've read, but enjoyable all the same.  

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Mission Critical, by Mark Greaney

Title: Mission Critical
Author: Mark Greaney
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 12/13/2020
Finished: 12/18/2020

Another Grey Man novel, pretty fun action book and series. 

Thursday, December 17, 2020

God Rest Ye Merry, Soldiers: A True Civil War Christmas Story, by James McIvor

Title: God Rest Ye Merry, Soldiers: A True Civil War Christmas Story
Author: James McIvor
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 12/13/2020
Finished: 12/16/2020

Enjoyable short book about civil war soldiers and Christmas.  

Monday, December 14, 2020

Last Christmas in Paris, by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

Title: Last Christmas in Paris
Author: Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 12/6/2020
Finished: 12/13/2020

Book club selection, romantic WWI novel, enjoyable. 

Saturday, December 12, 2020

The Tomb, by F. Paul Wilson

Title: The Tomb
Author: F. Paul Wilson
Borrowed from DC public library softback
Started: 12/2/2020
Finished: 12/12/2020

Didn't like this as much as the Keep, but still entertaining enough.  Also my first trip to the public library via Covid.  

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Shane, by Jack Schaefer

Title: Shane
Author: Jack Schaefer
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Audiobook
Started: 12/1/2020
Finished: 12/5/2020

Read this one before, it's such a good story. 

Monday, November 30, 2020

Nobody Move, by Denis Johnson

Title: Nobody Move
Author: Denis Johnson
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 11/23/2020
Finished: 11/30/2020

Loved this one the first time I read it. Still liked it, but not quite as much this time around. 

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Agent in Place, by Mark Greaney

Title: Agent in Place
Author: Mark Greaney
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 11/25/2020
Finished: 11/29/2020

Another entertaining Gray Man novel. 

Friday, November 27, 2020

Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman

Title: Anxious People
Author: Fredrik Backman
Purchased from Amazon.com Kindle Edition
Started: 11/21/2020
Finished: 11/27/2020

Also a book club book for a different group than the last post.  I LOVED this book.  One of the best I've read all year, and I've read some good ones. Life affirming, just fantastic. 

The Guest List, by Lucy Foley

Title: The Guest List
Author: Lucy Foley
Purchased hardback from Kramer Books in DC
Started: 11/14/2020
Finished: 11/27/2020

Book club book, my wife and I read it aloud over a couple of weeks.  Very entertaining, especially read that way.  Enjoyed this quite a bit. 

Monday, November 23, 2020

Dachshund through the Snow, by David Rosenfeld

Title: Dachshund through the Snow
Author: David Rosenfeld
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Audiobook
Started: 11/20/2020
Finished: 11/23/2020

First audiobook in a while, these Andy Carpenter books are fun and easy listens. 

Saturday, November 21, 2020

The Time Machine Did It, by John Swartzwelder

Title: The Time Machine Did It
Author: John Swartzwelder
Purchased from amazon.com Kindle Edition
Started: 11/2/19/2020
Finished:  11/21/2020

I've had this on my wishlist for years, finally pulled the trigger.  It's a very funny book, but also very short.  


Thursday, November 19, 2020

Gunmetal Gray, by Mark Greaney

Title: Gunmetal Gray
Author: Mark Greaney
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 11/15/2020
Finished: 11/19/2020

Best of the Gray Man series so far, honestly very enjoyable. 

Saturday, November 14, 2020

SPQR II: The Catiline Conspiracy, by John Maddox Roberts

Title: SPQR II: The Catiline Conspiracy
Author: John Maddox Roberts
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 11/12/2020
Finished: 11/14/2020

Second in this SPQR ancient Rome detective series. Not bad, not great. 

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett

Title: The Vanishing Half
Author: Brit Bennett
Purchased hardback from amazon.com
Started: 11/8/20202
Finished: 11/11/2020

Book club choice, not as literary as I expected.  More of a quick beach read. Ok but not my favorite. 

Sunday, November 8, 2020

Back Blast, by Mark Greaney

Title: Back Blast
Author: Mark Greaney
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 11/5/2020
Finished:11/8/2020

Probably the best of the Grey Man novels so far. Faint praise if you've read my other reviews, but still, credit where do -- very entertaining. 

Thursday, November 5, 2020

SPQR I: The King's Gambit

Title: SPQR I: The King's Gambit
Author: John Maddox Roberts
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 11/2/2020
Finished: 11/5/2020

I'd swear I'd read this one before, but it wasn't in my list. Enjoyable but didn't love it. 

Monday, November 2, 2020

Echoes: The Saga Anthology of Ghost Stories, by Ellen Datlow

Tis the season for haunted stuff, so I picked this one up mostly to see how I would like the writing of Nathan Ballingrud whom I had seen recommended elsewhere.  Most of the stories were very good, and I only recognized one as something I'd read before.  Overall enjoyable.

Monday, October 26, 2020

The Keep, by F. Paul Wilson

  • Title:  The Keep
  • Author: F. Paul Wilson
  • Purchased from Amazon.com Kindle Edition
  • Started: 10/20/2020
  • Finished: 10/24/2020
This has been on my to-read list for years, but was never available at my local libraries.  However, during Amazon's prime days I bought a new kindle paperwhite which gave me $5 in kindle credit.  The Keep had dropped to $2.99 so I was able to get it for free.

Turns out to be seasonably appropriate, since it is a horror/adventure novel.  I enjoyed it, particularly the first half or so which is very good.  Got a bit dumber as the book went on, but still a fun read and I'd go through more of Wilson's books if they were available from the library.

One note about the paperwhite -- I bought it wanting something I could read in the sun since every other device I have is useless in direct light.  It works as advertised for that purpose, but I was shocked at how cheap it feels and how slow it is compared to even my original Kindle Fire (now 10 years old).  I'm happy with it for the price I paid on Prime Day, but still, really feels like a cheaply made device.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Sweet Thursday, by John Steinbeck

  • Title:  Sweet Thursday
  • Author: John Steinbeck
  • Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library (audiobook) and Fairfax County, VA, Public Library (Kindle Edition)
  • Started: 10/13/2020
  • Finished: 10/22/2020
This was a book club selection, and I liked it, but not having read Cannery Row the characters and their quirks were jarring at first.  Also did something I don't often do with this one and switched between audiobook and Kindle edition as I felt like listing or directly reading, respectively.  

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James

Title: The Turn of the Screw
Author: Henry James
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library eBook
Started: 10/17/2020
Finished: 10/20/2020

My wife and I read this one to each other.  Not a romantic book, but it is a good one. Lots of fun for this time of year.  I'm firmly in the "no ghosts" camp. 

Friday, October 16, 2020

Blue Moon, by Lee Child

Title: Blue Moon
Author: Lee Child
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started:  10/11/2020
Finished: 10/16/2020

Another terrible Reacher novel, but stupidly enjoyable. 

Monday, October 12, 2020

The Letter of Marque, by Patrick O'Brian

  • Title:  The Letter of Marque
  • Author: Patrick O'Brian
  • Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 10/9/2020
  • Finished: 10/12/2020
As a series the books are fantastic.  Individual books have big highs and a few have some lows.  This is one that I love a bit less than the others.  The first half or so is great, but the Steven/Diana stuff near the end is just a bit too much melodrama.  So still extremely enjoyable in the series, but as an individual entry not my favorite.

I didn't keep notes when I read this  in 2013 so I have no clue if I felt the same way back then.  

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Dead Eye, by Mark Greaney

Title: Dead Eye
Author: Mark Greaney
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 10/1/2020
Finished: 10/10/2020

Another stupid but fun Gray Man novel. 

Thursday, October 8, 2020

The Reverse of the Medal, by Patrick O'Brian

  • Title:  The Reverse of the Medal
  • Author: Patrick O'Brian
  • Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 10/2/2020
  • Finished: 10/8/2020
I absolutely love this series and it really hits its stride now.  The first time I read this one the scene where Jack is being put in pillory and all the sailors surround and cheer him -- it made me cry.  Knowing it was coming make it slightly less impactful, but it is still really moving.  

Thursday, October 1, 2020

The Far Side of the World, by Patrick O'Brian

  • Title:  The Far Side of the World
  • Author: Patrick O'Brian
  • Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 9/29/2020
  • Finished: 10/1/2020
God these books are JUST SO GOOD.  I can't believe O'Brian as me rooting against the Americans in the War of 1812, but this is just an outstanding series, and an outstanding entry in said series.  Good, good stuff.

Monday, September 28, 2020

Treason's Harbour, by Patrick O'Brian

Title: Treason's Harbour
Author: Patrick O'Brian
Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook
Started: 9/22/2020
Finished: 9/28/2020

This series is just so good.  I can't text during my first reading if I knew Ray was the traitor, I think I had picked up on it by this book but really not sure.  I know the answer now, of course, but on this second reading it is obvious and all the clues are there.  Good stuff.  

Friday, September 25, 2020

Ballistic, by Mark Greaney

Title: Ballistic
Author: Mark Greaney
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 9/15/2020
Finished: 9/25/2020

This one started out pretty good.  Like a legitimately good novel and not the action movie-ish throw away books these are like the earlier two (I say this with love, Greaney hit on a winning formula and I applaud him, but literature these ain't).  And then about halfway through the book reverted to form and while entertaining as hell to read, it was as silly as the rest.  Got to hand it to Greaney -- having the love interest decide to become a nun was the coup de grace. 

Monday, September 21, 2020

The Ionian Mission, by Patrick O'Brian

  • Title:  The Ionian Mission
  • Author:  Patrick O'Brian
  • Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 9/15/2020
  • Finished: 9/21/2020
Cruising right along through my re-read.  This Aubrey-Maturin series is just so good.

Monday, September 14, 2020

The Surgeon's Mate, by Patrick O'Brian

  • Title:  The Surgeon's Mate
  • Author: Patrick O'Brian
  • Borrowed from DC Public Library (Audiobook)
  • Started: 9/10/2020
  • Finished: 9/14/2020
The first time I read this book back in October of 2012 I said it was my least favorite in the series so far.  Second time around it's a favorite.  I'm better able to comprehend the story, and embarrassed to admit I only now got the joke of the title when Maturin gets married at the end...

Friday, September 11, 2020

The Eighth Detective, by Alex Pavesi

  • Title:  The Eighth Detective
  • Author:  Alex Pavesi
  • Purchased Hardcover from bookstore in Bethany Beach, DE
  • Started: 9/7/2020
  • Finished: 9/10/2020
Book club book (my selection based on WSJ review), pretty good.

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

The Fortune of War, by Patrick O'Brian

Title: The Fortune of War
Author: Patrick O'Brian
Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook
Started:  9/6/2020
Finished: 9/9/2020

Continuing at high speed through these books, I just love them and it's been so long since I ran through the series last. 

Sunday, September 6, 2020

On Target, by Mark Greaney

Title: On Target
Author: Mark Greaney
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 8/31/2020
Finished: 9/6/2020

Second in The Grey Man series, pretty terrible, but easy to read. 

Saturday, September 5, 2020

Desolation Island, by Patrick O'Brian

Title: Desolation Island
Author: Patrick O'Brian
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 8/30/2020
Finished: 9/5/2020

My re-read is hitting high speed, love these books.  

Saturday, August 29, 2020

The Mauritius Command, by Patrick O'Brian

Title: The Mauritius Command
Author: Patrick O'Brian
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 8/25/2020
Finished: 8/29/2020

These books are so good, and fun to reread where you catch more and are more comfortable with the larger story.  Crazy enjoyable.  

Thursday, August 27, 2020

The Gray Man, by Mark Greaney

  • Title:  The Gray Man
  • Author:  Mark Greaney
  • Borrowed from Little Free Library in Ocean City, MD (Paperback)
  • Started: 8/25/2020
  • Finished: 8/27/2020
Terrible novel, terrific beach read.  Just like the Reacher novels I'll probably burn through this series despite how bad they are.  Hard to knock action movie-like books.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan

Title: Washington Black
Author: Esi Edugyan
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 7/37/2020
Finished: 8/18/2020

Book club selection, did not enjoy.  

Friday, August 14, 2020

HMS Surprise, by Patrick O'Brian

  • Title:  HMS Surprise
  • Author:  Patrick O'Brian
  • Borrowed from Worcester County Public Library (audiobook)
  • Started: 8/2/2020
  • Finished: 8/14/2020
I started to listen to the next book in the Harry Turtledove alternate history but just couldn't stomach it (too many of those in a row) so I turned back to an old favorite, the Aubrey/Maturin series.

I had started a re-read of the series a while back and was up the third entry, the book I just finished (HMS Surprise).  I thought I had started my re-read about a year or so ago -- incredibly it was 4 years ago (2016) when I re-read the first two books.  Time does fly.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Blood & Iron, by Harry Turtledove

  • Title:  Blood & Iron
  • Author:  Harry Turtledove
  • Borrowed from Montgomery County, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 7/19/2020
  • Finished: 7/29/2020
This book had a few enjoyable payoffs after several books in the series had clearly been leading up to a few major plot points.  Probably the most satisfying was Sylvia Enos killing the man who murdered her husband (torpedoed his boat after the war was over).  You knew it was coming but it will still immensely satisfying.

With much embarrassment I had to admit I confused two of the canadian characters (one in Manitoba, the other Quebec) and was confused as to which had unsuccessfully thrown a bomb at Custer.  No matter what, and no matter how much of the plot is telegraphed in these novels, they're very enjoyable.

Sunday, July 26, 2020

The Godfather's Revenge, by Mark Winegardner

Title: The Godfather's Revenge
Author: Mark Winegardner
Borrowed from Little Free Library in paperback
Started: 7/19/2020
Finished: 7/26/2020

So so as a beach/easy read, but not as good as other Godfather novels. 

Friday, July 17, 2020

Breakthroughs, by Harry Turtledove

Title: Breakthroughs
Author: Harry Turtledove
Borrowed from Montgomery County, MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 7/2/2020
Finished: 7/17/2020

So I was all set to continue this series via Worcester County, MD Public Library but apparently on July 1st they changed the audiobook holdings and dropped the rest of Turtledove's series.  So I had to hunt around for a neighboring library system with reciprocal privileges with DC that also carried the series.  Montgomery County was the winner and I've been able to continue on with my entertainment.  

This was better than the middle book, very entertaining. 

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Afterlife, by Julia Alvarez

  • Title: Afterlife
  • Author: Julia Alvarez
  • Borrowed from Worcester County Public Library ebook
  • Started: 7/7/2020
  • Finished: 7/14/2020
Book club book, really liked this one.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Rumpole on Trial, by John Mortimer

Title: Rumpole on Trial
Author: John Mortimer
Purchased used on Amazon hardback
Started: 6/29/2020
Finished: 7/2/2020

Enjoyable but I'm pretty sure one or more of these were in other volumes I read. Not a complaint, still fun. 

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Walk in Hell, by Harry Turtledove

  • Title:  Walk in Hell
  • Author:  Harry Turtledove
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 6/24/2020
  • Finished: 7/1/2020
Book two in the Great War trilogy, but book 3 in the overall Southern Victory series.  Enjoyable.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

American Front, by Harry Turtledove

  • Title:  American Front
  • Author:  Harry Turtledove
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 6/18/2020
  • Finished: 6/23/2020
Very enjoyable continuation of this alternate history series.

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Kickback, by Ace Atkins

Title: Kickback
Author: Ace Atkins
Borrowed from DC Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 6/13/2020
Finished: 6/18/2020

Decent Spenser novel

A River Runs Through It, by Norman Maclean

Title: A River Runs Through It
Author: Norman Maclean
Purchased from library book sale hardback
Started: 6/13/2020
Finished: 6/18/2020

Enjoyable short novel. Never saw the movie version. 

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

How Few Remain, by Harry Turtledove

  • Title:  How Few Remain
  • Author:  Harry Turtledove
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library (Audiobook)
  • Started: 6/9/2020
  • Finished: 6/17/2020
Really enjoyed this one -- an alternate history where the south wins the civil war.  There are a bunch more novels in this and related series so I suspect I'll be going through them in order now.  Nice to have a new series to invest my time in.

Friday, June 12, 2020

Cheap Shot, by Ace Atkins

Title: Cheap Shit
Author: Ace Atkins
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 6/9/2020
Finished: 6/12/2020

The best so far of the Ace Atkins Spenser novels. Very enjoyable. 

Monday, June 8, 2020

Wonderland, by Ace Atkins

Title: Wonderland
Author: Ace Atkins
Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 6/6/2020
Finished: 6/8/2020

Spenser novel, not bad. 

The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Borrowed from Fairfax County, VA Public Library Audiobook
Started: 6/1/2020
Finished: 6/8/2020

Book club selection, like much of it but a bit too corny overall.  

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Band of Brothers, by Alexander Kent

Title: Band of Brothers
Author: Alexander Kent
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library eBook
Started: 6/3/2020
Finished: 6/4/2020

Third in the Bolitho series. Didn't enjoy this one as much. 

Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger

Title: Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger
Author: Alexander Kent
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library eBook
Started: 6/2/2020
Finished: 6/3/2020

Second on the Bolitho series, again pretty good. 

Richard Bolitho: Midshipman , by Alexander Kent

Title: Richard Bolitho: Midshipman
Author: Alexander Kent
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library eBook
Started: 6/1/2020
Finished: 6/2/2020

First in the Bolitho series, not bad.  

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Sharpe's Trafalger, by Bernard Cornwell

Title: Sharpe's Trafalger
Author: Bernard Cornwell
Borrowed from Little Free Library in Ocean City, MD Hardback
Started: 5/30/2020
Finished: 5/31/2020

Enjoyable Sharpe novel, perhaps moreso because of how much I enjoyed the Aubrey/Maturin novels. 

Saturday, May 30, 2020

God Save the Child, by Robert B Parker

Title: God Save the Child
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 5/28/2020
Finished: 5/30/2020

Well I went back to read this one (skipping it as I read through the entire Spenser series since I had read it fairly recently) because of how prominent a role Susan plays in the series.  I couldn't recall their meeting. 

It's interesting in this first meeting Spenser describes Susan as "not beautiful" (while still enamored with her) when for the rest of the series she's described as a knockout no man can resist. 

Oh well, that's officially it for the Parker Spenser novels. 

Friday, May 29, 2020

The Wisdom of Father Brown, by G. K. Chesterton

  • Title: The Wisdom of Father Brown
  • Author:  G. K.Chesterton
  • Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 5/22/2020
  • Finished: 5/29/20202
A couple of good stories, but not as entertaining as the first book in this series.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Sixkill, by Robert B Parker

Title: Sixkill
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 5/26/2020
Finished: 5/27/2020


The last if Parker's Spenser novels.  

Monday, May 25, 2020

The Bridges of Madison County, by Robert James Waller

Title: The Bridges of Madison County
Author: Robert James Waller
Borrowed from Little Free Library in DC hardback
Started: 4/1/2020
Finished: 5/25/2020

I'm too cynical -- romance novel where the lady is cheating on her loving husband and family.  Didn't enjoy it much. 

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Chasing the Bear, by Robert B Parker

Title: Chasing the Bear
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from DC Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 5/24/2020
Finished: 5/24/2020

Young Spenser novel, decent, very short. 

Painted Ladies, by Robert B Parker

Title: Painted Ladies
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from DC Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 5/22/2020
Finished: 5/23/2020

So so Spenser novel. Second to last I think. 

Friday, May 22, 2020

The Professional, by Robert B Parker

Title: The Professional
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from DC Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 5/19/2020
Finished: 5/20/2020

So so Spenser, near the end of the series now.  

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Aunt's Aren't Gentlemen, by P.G. Wodehouse

  • Title:  Aunt's Aren't Gentlemen
  • Author:  P.G. Wodehouse
  • Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library (Audiobook)
  • Started: 5/15/2020
  • Finished: 5/19/2020
I took my time over this one since it is the last in the series.  Great book, but depressing knowing there won't be any others.

Monday, May 18, 2020

Rough Weather, by Robert B Parker

Title: Rough Weather
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from DC Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 5/17/2020
Finished: 5/18/2020

So so Spenser novel, abrupt ending. 

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Now & Then, by Robert B Parker

Title: Now & Then
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 5/13/2020
Finished: 5/15/2020

Ok Spenser novel. 

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Hundred-Dollar Baby, by Robert B. Parker

  • Title:  Hundred-Dollar Baby
  • Author:  Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Worcester County, MD, Public Library Kindle Edition
  • Started: 5/12/2020
  • Finished: 5/13/2020
Decent last entry in the Spenser series, abrupt ending.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Jeeves and the Tie that Binds, by P.G. Wodehouse

  • Title:  Jeeves and the Tie that Binds
  • Author: P. G. Wodehouse
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 5/12/2020
  • Finished: 5/13/2020
An all too short entry in the Jeeves/Wooster series.  Enjoyable stuff -- only one book left in the series...

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Cold Service, by Robert B Parker

Title: Cold Service
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 5/8/2020
Finished: 5/10/2020

Read this one before, a not great Spenser novel.  

The Overstory, by Richard Powers

Title: The Overstory
Author: Richard Powers
Purchased from Audible Audiobook
Started: 4/20/2020
Finished: 5/10/2020

Book club selection, liked it more than I thought I would.  

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Trouble in Paradise, by Robert B Parker

Title: Trouble in Paradise
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 5/4/2020
Finished: 5/7/2020

Enjoyable Jesse Stone novel   

Monday, May 4, 2020

Devil may Care, by Sebastian Faulks

Title: Devil may Care
Author: Sebastian Faulks
Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 4/28/2020
Finished: 5/4/2020

Non-Flemming Bond book. Decent enough. 

Bad Business, by Robert B. Parker

  • Title:  Bad Business
  • Author: Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Kindle Edition
  • Started: 5/2/2020
  • Finished: 5/3/2020
Remember Enron?  Seems like ancient history now.  This was Parker's take on that scandal (I assume) in Spenser form.  Decent entry in the series.

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Night Passage, by Robert B Parker

Title: Night Passage
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 5/1/2020
Finished: 5/2/2020

First Jesse Stone novel, easy and entertaining. 

Friday, May 1, 2020

Back Story, by Robert B. Parker

  • Title:  Back Story
  • Author:  Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Kindle Edition
  • Started: 4/29/2020
  • Finished: 4/30/2020
Bit of a crossover novel as it also features Jesse Stone.  I've read a few of those and you can tell Parker was enjoying writing them more than these Spenser novels at that time.  This one wasn't great.

Monday, April 27, 2020

Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse

Title: Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves
Author: P G. Wodehouse
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
Started: 4/25/2020
Finished: 4/27/2020

Another enjoyable Jeeves book. 

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit, by P.G. Wodehouse

Title: Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit
Author: P.G. Wodehouse
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 4/23/2020
Finished: 4/24/2020

Another entertaining Jeeves book. 

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Right Ho, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse

  • Title: Right Ho, Jeeves
  • Author: P.G. Wodehouse
  • Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 4/15/2020
  • Finished: 4/16/2020
Forgot to log this one, which I read between Thank you, Jeeves, and The Code of the Woosters.  very enjoyable.

The Mating Season, by P.G. Wodehouse

  • Title:  The Mating Season
  • Author: P.G. Wodehouse
  • Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 4/20/2020
  • Finished: 4/23/2020
Another great and hilarious Wooster & Jeeves novel.  

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Joy in the Morning, by P.G. Wodehouse

Title: Joy in the Morning
Author: P.G. Wodehouse
Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 4/18/2020
Finished: 4/19/2020

Enjoyable Jeeves novel. 

Friday, April 17, 2020

The Code of the Woosters, by P.G. Wodehouse

  • Title: The Code of the Woosters
  • Author: P.G. Wodehouse
  • Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 4/15/2020
  • Finished: 4/17/2020
These books are amazing.  

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Thank You, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse

  • Title:  Thank You, Jeeves
  • Author:  P.G. Wodehouse
  • Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 4/13/2020
  • Finished: 4/14/2020
The first full length Jeeves novel, good stuff, but I imagine many modern readers will take issue with the black face scenes and similar dated language.

Monday, April 13, 2020

Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad

Title: Heart of Darkness
Author: Joseph Conrad
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
Started: 4/13/2020
Finished: 4/13/2020

Haven't read this one since college, enjoyable and dark. 


Very Good, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse

  • Title: Very Good, Jeeves
  • Author:  P.G. Wodehouse
  • Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 4/11/2020
  • Finished: 4/12/2020
Extremely enjoyable Jeeves book.

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Jeeves in the Offing, by P.G. Wodehouse

Title: Jeeves in the Offing
Author: P.G. Wodehouse
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
Started: 4/9/2020
Finished: 4/11/2020

This was a fantastic book, can't believe it took me so long to get into these Jeeves books. So clever and entertaining.

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Potshot, by Robert B Parker

Title: Potshot
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester County Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 4/6/2020
Finished: 4/8/2020

Decent Spenser novel. 

The Innocence of Father Brown, by G.K. Chesterton

Title: The Innocence of Father Brown
Author: G.K. Chesterton
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
Started: 4/4/2020
Finished: 4/9/2020

Decent collection of short mysteries, liked the first half better than the second. 

Sunday, April 5, 2020

American Spy, by Lauren Wilkinson

Title: American Spy
Author: Lauren Wilkinson
Purchased from Kramer Books hardcover
Started:  2/15/2020
Finished: 4/5/2020

Book club books, took me a long time to really start to force myself to read it.  Didn't love it.  

Rumpole Misbehaves, by John Mortimer

Title: Rumpole Misbehaves
Author: John Mortimer
Purchased used softback from Amazon
Started: 1/30/2020
Finished: 4/5/2020

This is a short novel that shouldn't take 3 months to read. But I used it as my backup reading to fill in between other books, so only finally finished today. Overall enjoyed this one. 

Friday, April 3, 2020

Carry On, Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse

  • Title:  Carry On, Jeeves
  • Author:  P.G. Wodehouse
  • Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Audiobook
  • Started;   3/28/2020
  • Finished: 4/3/2020
Despite the fact that most of these Jeeves stories are the same plot repeated, they're damn funny and in these crazy days it a good distraction

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Bark of the Night, by David Rosenfelt

  • Title:  Bark of the Night
  • Author:  David Rosenfelt
  • Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library, Audiobook
  • Started: 3/28/2020
  • Finished: 4/1/2020
Another in the Andy Carpenter series.  Takes him to my hometown area of Tampa, takes the cheap shot against the sports teams down there.  Not as funny as some entries in the series, but good enough to pass the time.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Hugger Mugger, by Robert B Parker

Title: Hugger Mugger
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started:. 3/28/2020
Finished:  3/31/2020

Stupidist title of any book, a decent Spenser novel otherwise. 

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Hush Money, by Robert B Parker

Title: Hush Money
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 3/24/2020
Finished: 3/28/2020

So so Spenser novel. 

Saturday, March 28, 2020

The Inimitable Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse

Title:. The Inimitable Jeeves
Author: P.G. Wodehouse
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Audiobook
Started: 3/23/2020
Finished: 3/27/2020

Took my time with this short collection of stories. I've tried several times to get into these Wodehouse Jeeves novels, I think this time it finally clicked.  

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Sudden Mischief, by Robert B Parker

  • Title:  Sudden Mischief
  • Author: Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Little Free Library, Hardback
  • Started: 3/14/2020
  • Finished: 3/17/2020
A not very good Spenser novel.  

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Small Vices, by Robert B Parker

Title: Small Vices
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 3/1/2020
Finished: 3/12/2020

Decent Spenser novel, took me a while as I haven't had much time to read. 

Monday, March 2, 2020

Big Sky, by Kate Atkinson

  • Title:  Big Sky
  • Author:  Kate Atkinson
  • Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 2/25/2020
  • Finished: 3/1/2020
A new Jackson Brodie book -- been years since the last one.  I liked this series a lot and this new book just continued that feeling.  This felt like the last book in the series, but you never know.

Friday, February 28, 2020

Chance, by Robert B Parker

Title: Chance
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 2/24/2020
Finished: 2/28/2020

So so Spencer novel. 

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Thin Air, by Robert B Parker

Title: Thin Air
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 2/22/2020
Finished: 2/23/2020

One of the better later Spenser novels. 

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Walking Shadow, by Robert B Parker

Title: Walking Shadow
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 2/21/2020
Finished: 2/22/2020

Pretty sure I read this one before, not a great Spenser novel. 

Friday, February 21, 2020

Double Deuce, by Robert B Parker

Title: Double Deuce
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 2/11/2020
Finished: 2/14/2020

Decent Spenser novel

Paper Doll, by Robert B Parker

Title: Paper Doll
Author: Robert B Parker
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started 2/16/2020
Finished: 2/21/2020

So so Spenser novel

Friday, February 14, 2020

A Better Man, by Louise Penny

  • Title:  A Better Man
  • Author:  Louise Penny
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 2/7/2020
  • Finished: 2/14/2020
I generally don't like my first read of a mystery series to be a late entry, but that's just what I did here.  Even not knowing the characters from previous novels, this was an entertaining read.

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Pastime, by Robert B. Parker

Title: Pastime
Author: Robert B. Parker
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 2/6/2020
Finished: 2/8/2020

One of the better Spenser novels. 

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Stardust, by Robert B. Parker

  • Title:  Stardust
  • Author:  Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 2/5/2020
  • Finished: 2/6/2020
Guessing this one was written after Parker's experience with the TV show Spenser for Hire.  Decent Spenser book but ending was pretty abrupt.  

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Crimson Joy, by Robert B. Parker

  • Title: Crimson Joy
  • Author: Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 2/2/2020
  • Finished: 2/4/2020
Another so-so Spenser novel, but these do pass the time.

Monday, February 3, 2020

School Days, by Robert B. Parker

Title: School Days
Author: Robert B. Parker
Paperback from little free library in DC 
Started: 2/1/2020
Finished: 2/2/2020

So so Spenser novel

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Taming a Sea-Horse, by Robert B. Parker

Title: Taming a Sea-Horse
Author: Robert B. Parker
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
Started; 1/29/2020
Finished 2/1/2020

So so Spenser novel. 

Legion, by William Peter Blatty

Title: Legion
Author: William Peter Blatty
Purchased hardback from Amazon.com
Started: 1/27/2020
Finished: 2/1/2020

Sequel to The Exorcist, very enjoyable. 

Thursday, January 30, 2020

The Outsider, by Stephen King

  • Title:  The Outsider
  • Author:  Stephen King
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County, VA Public Library (Audiobook)
  • Started: 1/26/2020
  • Finished: 1/30/2020
Listened to this one more for Will Patton's narration than Stephen King's writing.  Entertaining but not particularly scary.  

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Rumpole's Return, by John Mortimer

Title: Rumpole's Return
Author: John Mortimer
Purchased hardback used from Amazon.com
Started: fall 2019
Finished: 1/26/2020

I'd been nursing this one for a while but finally really started reading it this weekend. Enjoyable Rumpole novel. 

A Catskill Eagle, by Robert B. Parker

Title: A Catskill Eagle
Author: Robert B. Parker
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
Started: 1/24/2020
Finished: 1/26/2020

Enjoyable but a bit off Spenser novel. 

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Ceremony, by Robert B. Parker

Title: Ceremony
Author: Robert B. Parker
Started: 1/20/2020
Finished: 1/24/2020

My least favorite of these early Spenser novels. 

Friday, January 24, 2020

Valediction, by Robert B. Parker

Title: Valediction
Author: Robert B. Parker
Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
Started: 1/21/2020
Finished: 1/23/2020

A so-so Spenser. 

Thursday, January 23, 2020

The Widening Gyre, by Robert B. Parker

  • Title:  The Widening Gyre
  • Author:  Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County, VA Public Library Audiobook
  • Started: 1/19/2020
  • Finished: 1/22/2020
Finally Spenser visits DC, but I wasn't thrilled with the book.  The blackmail scheme was bizarre, and the final resolution contrived and seems unsatisfactory.  Still, DC...

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Early Autumn, by Robert B. Parker

  • Title:  Early Autumn
  • Author:  Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Kindle Edition
  • Started: 1/19/2020
  • Finished: 1/20/2020
Pretty good Spenser book.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Looking for Rachel Wallace, by Robert B. Parker

  • Title:  Looking for Rachel Wallace
  • Author:  Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
  • Started: 1/12/2020
  • Finished: 1/14/2020
I liked this one more now than when I read it originally years ago.  Solid Spenser novel.

Monday, January 13, 2020

The Judas Goat, by Robert B. Parker

  • Title:  The Judas Goat
  • Author:  Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Kindle Edition
  • Started: 1/12/2019
  • Finished: 1/12/2019
These Spenser novels are not taxing, and sometimes they're not even very good, but they are comfortable, fun, and easy to read.  And there is kind of great feeling of accomplishment that comes with reading a book cover to cover in one day.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

A Savage Place, by Robert B. Parker

Title: A Savage Place
Author: Robert B. Parker
Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
Started: 1/6/2020
Finished: 1/12/2020

A not very good Spenser book. 

Thursday, January 9, 2020

The Godwulf Manuscript, by Robert B. Parker

  • Title:  The Godwulf Manuscript
  • Author:  Robert B. Parker
  • Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library (Audiobook)
  • Started: 1/4/2019
  • Finished: 1/9/2020
I read this one before, back in May of 2009 (I've been keeping track of books here for a long time!) in paperback.  Decided to give it a listen since I wanted something easy and fun.  This fit the bill, Narrated by the same guy who did all of the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe books (Michael Prichard).  Good narrator for Spenser too.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Blood Relatives, by Ed McBain

Title: Blood Relatives
Author: Ed McBain
Hardback from little free library in Ocean City MD
Started: October 2019
Finished: 1/3/2020

Started this 87th precinct novel last fall but left it at the beach. Went back after the new year and finished today.  Pretty obvious mystery.